Abbott has whip restored but could still be banned

Future of MP unclear as colleagues say she is left in ‘limbo'

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

Diane Abbott is to reportedly be banned from standing as a Labour candidate at the general election as it emerged a party investigation into her finished five months ago.

Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday that the party’s National Executive Committee will decide whether Ms Abbott, the longest-serving Black MP, will be able to stand for the party in the 4 July general election.

But The Times is reporting that the party’s leadership has already made its decision on the 70-year-old, who was suspended last April over a letter she wrote suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities.

It comes as the Press Association said she had been given back the Labour whip on Tuesday, which sources to The Times said would allow her to leave politics “with dignity” rather than stand again for the party.

Ms Abbott, the former shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, had apologised over her comments and said the letter had been an “initial draft”.

The investigation into Ms Abbott was completed in December, claimed a Newsnight report yesterday that said she was given a formal warning over her conduct and required to complete an antisemitism awareness course, which she completed in February.